Improvement in seed-planters



J ROBINSON.

Seed Planter.

Patehted Dec 1, 1857.

ANLPHDTG-LITHO. CD NX (OSBURNE'E PROCESS) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN ROBINSON, OF ELI, OF SHARPSTOWVN, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT lN SEED-PLANTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 18,772, dated December1, 1857.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN ROBINSON, of Sharpstown, county of Somerset, inthe State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement inSeed-Planters; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full andexact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in certain improvements inseed-planters, as hereinafter more fully explained.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willproceed to describe its construction and operation.

In theaccompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation, Fig.2 a back view, Fig. 3 a top View, of seed-box and attachments thereto;Fig. 4, avertical longitudinal section at a 00, Fig. 3; and Fig. 5, atop view of seed-slide and valve. The red lines in Fig. Preprescnt thehandles and seed apparatus in an elevated position.

A is the plowshare or furrow-cutter, of the form shown in the drawings.

B is the beam, which is secured to the plowshare by the boltp, and towhich (at the end E) the horses are geared. I

Secured firmly to the back edges of the plowshare A, and terminating inthe iron guides Gr, (upon which are the adjustable stops d, the uses ofwhich are yet to be explained,) are the wooden uprights Gr, curved inthe manner represented in the drawings. These wooden uprights G, withtheir iron termini, are suitably braced or strengthened by cross-piecesz. The metal guides G are provided with'small holes f for the insertionof the pins, which bolt or secure the stops (1 at any desired point uponsaid guides G.

Near the end E of the beam B is a short upright post, D, (of wood ormetal,) to which are jointed or pivoted (one on either side) the woodenbars 0, terminating in handles 0 at the rear end of the machine, whichhandles are so mortised or otherwise constructed as to at lowthe curvedmetal guides G to pass through them.

Between the two bars 0, and extending from one to the other, is thecross-piece or rock-shaft g, pivoted at either end in the bars 0.Descending from this rock-shaft is the arm F,braced by two inclined barsor rod, h.

The seed box or hopper H, together with the machinery-box I, is pivotedbetween the moldboard and landside at m m, (see Fig. 2,) whereby it isrendered capable of a vibratory motion in a vertical plane, which isgoverned by the handles 0 at the option of the operator of the machine.

The dirt-gatherer and coverer K is secured to the box I by means ofstraps L and nuts, and may be secured at any desired point on said box.

The bifurcated strap 70 is fast at its upper end to the cross-bar i andat its lower to the box I, and is provided with a buckle for pur posesof shortening and lengthening it.

By reference to Fig. 4 the construction and arrangement of the seed-boxH, machinery-box I, and the attachments thereto will be readilyunderstood, where F is the lower end of the arm, (seen in full at Figs.1 and 2,) which is pivoted at s to the upper end ofa-knee or cranklever, said knee being pivoted at r to the box I, and having its lowerend working in a slot, u, in the seed-slide w.

R is the adjustable slide or gage plate, by which the size of the chargeor cup 1; is regulated, and which is secured by a screw, 3 passingthrough the slot at 2. Q are clearing-pins, which project upwardslightly from either side 'of the metallic slide It and a short distanceback of the charge or cup 1:, for the purpose of agitating the seedslightly to prevent clogging and failure of a full charge in the cup,and 00 represents the brush constructed and operating in the usualmanner.

Having described the construction and ar rangement of parts, I will nowproceed to explain the operation of my machine, as follows, viz:

The hopper being full of seed and the horses geared to the beam B, themotion forward is commenced, and the usual furrow is cut in the surfaceof the ground, the gathcrer and covererKmeanwhile collecting a quantityof earth from the side of the furrow, the operator, with his hands onthe handles O,keeping them down until it is necessary to deposit theseed. By a very slight elevation of the handles O the rod F is raised,and the crooked lever, Fig. 4, moved upon its pivot 1', throwing forwardthe slide or valve 10 until the measure 11, passing under the brush w,is directly over and corresponds with the spout 0, when the quantum ofseed previously prevented from falling by the bottom of the box I isdropped into the ground. The lifting of the handles 0, being nowcontinued until they reach the stops at, previously adjusted to theproper height, allows the dirt-gatherer or coverer K to deposit the dirtwhich it has been collecting immediately upon the seed just dropped,thereby forming a hill directly over the seed or collections of seedsplanted. The handles are now lowered to their original position upontheguides, and the gatherer begins at once to collect the earth for theformation of the next hill. The slide 20 resumes its position, (shown inFig. 4,) and is again filled with seed ready to be planted, as before,when the planter has passed over the desired space of ground.

The use of having the stops d adjustable, as above described, is that bytheir height the quantity of earth deposited in each bill may beregulated according'to the nature of the soil and the kind of seed to beplanted. The strap 70 is the adjustment by which the depth of thecoverer K in the furrow is regulated, and consequently the quantityof.earth which is collected between the formation of each hill, and isalso used to lift and fasten the hopper. and machinery therewithconnected away from the ground when the apparatus is to be used solelyfor purposes of plowing.

By the bars G being jointed to the front end of the beam B the depth ofthe furrow is regulated with more ease and certainty than by.

handles 0, thus avoiding the conflicting motions of the old method.

Having described the construction and operation of my machine, what Iclaim as new, and

desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1; Regulatingthe quantity ofearth deposited over and adjacent to the seed by means of adjustablestops d, when used in connection with the curved arms G, lifting-arms F,and adjustable strap k, in combination with the adjustable coverer k,the whole constructed and operating as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combined arrangement of the vibrating box I,lifting-ar1n F,adjustable strap 70, and adjustable stop 01, the whole operating as andfor the purpose set forth.

. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day ofAugust, 1857.

JOHN ROBINSON.

Witnesses:

RICHARD P. DAILY, GILLIss T. TAYLOR.

